Defense To Test 'noles

Tailbacks Need To Give Fsu More Balance

TALLAHASSE — Florida State coach Bobby Bowden distrusts statistics because he knows they can be inverted, twisted, sliced in half and multiplied to say just about anything.

But, still, this one doesn't look good: Two weeks ago against Boston College, his highly touted tailback tandem of Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker combined for 30 yards on 13 carries. Three games into the season, FSU's rushing offense ranks 105th in the nation.

Syracuse, this week's opponent and a team many FSU fans are expecting to rout, ranks first in the nation in turnover margin and sixth in pass defense.

"Oh, it ain't going to be a blowout. If people are expecting that, they're not being realistic," offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden said. "This is a very good defense."

Bobby Bowden has warned, too, that Syracuse's defense could be even tougher and more athletic than the one FSU faced at Boston College two weeks ago, when the Eagles crowded the box early and forced the Seminoles to pick up 243 of their 256 total yards in the air.

The architect behind Syracuse's defense is a former NFL coordinator. Greg Robinson took Syracuse's coaching job in January after spending last season at Texas. But he had spent the previous decade as a defensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos and New York Jets.

"They'll maybe give you some coverages that you haven't seen," Bobby Bowden said. "They're good -- and I'm sure this comes from a background of their coaches playing pro ball so long -- at taking away what you do the best."

The Seminoles still are trying to figure out what they do best. But for all the frustration that they've been one-dimensional through long stretches early this season, there's also the sense that they have shown only a fraction of their full potential on offense.

Quarterback Drew Weatherford and Washington and Booker say they can sense the moment approaching when opposing defenses will begin respecting Weatherford's arm and backing out of the box.

"After establishing the fact that we can throw the ball, I don't think they're going to be able to do that anymore," said Weatherford, who threw for 188 yards in the second half against BC. "I don't think they'll be able to go eight in the box like they want to, and our offense will balance out."

Booker isn't concerned about his numbers or the idea that they might imply a subpar effort on his part. It's not that he can't move the ball when he gets it, but rather that he and Washington haven't been getting it much in the first place. Against Boston College, FSU's offense was on the field for just 7:41 in the first half.

"We've just been fortunate enough that Drew and the receivers have responded because so far it's been take the run away, take Leon and Lorenzo away," Jeff Bowden said. "And I haven't been patient enough to sit there and pound it with 'em."

The numbers haven't lulled Robinson into discounting FSU's tailbacks.

"Whatever reason [they've been ineffective], I don't know, but I like their running backs," he said.

All of the Seminoles, though, could see things today they haven't yet. Maybe a cornerback who walks up for run support, then backpedals into pass coverage at the last minute, or a different zone blitz.

"The whole offense has to be on the same page," center David Castillo said. "We can't have one guy going one way and one guy going another. That could make us look really bad."

SYRACUSE AT NO. 6 FLORIDA STATE

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m., Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee.

TV: 10, 25 . Radio: 790 The Ticket (790-AM).

Records: FSU 3-0; Syracuse 1-2.

Line: FSU by 21.

Coaches: Bobby Bowden is 281-70-4 in his 30th season at FSU, 354-102-4 overall. Greg Robinson is in his first season at Syracuse.

Series: FSU leads 4-1.

When FSU has the ball: After a big second half against Boston College, QB Drew Weatherford is hoping he has finally earned enough respect for opposing defenses to back out of the box and free up RBs Leon Washington and Lorenzo Booker for a greater role. If FSU is routing, backup QB Xavier Lee may see significant time, but the easy win is far from guaranteed against an NFL-style Syracuse defense that will throw numerous confusing schemes at the Seminoles.

When Syracuse has the ball: FSU's defense has yet to allow a touchdown in the second half, and now the Seminoles are looking for a four-quarter shutout. That's realistic against an offense that is averaging 280 yards per game (104th in the nation). QB Perry Patterson has thrown for just one TD this season.

Extra points: Syracuse's plus-2.67 turnover margin ranks first in the nation in I-A. ... Both teams are coming off a bye week. ... Syracuse WR Landel Bembo and CB Marcus Clayton are both from Tallahassee. ... This is Robinson's first road game as a college head coach. He and Bobby Bowden have never met.